Signaling system



Dec. 4, 1951 H. ANTRANIKIAN. 2,577,297

SIGNALING SYSTEM Filed Jan. 22,1944

Lf' v AMPLIFYI NG SYSTEM SIGNAL islgigmh /2- D osClLLAToR VOLTAGE SOURCE 4@ '4/ CIRCUITS Tmp* und Patented Dec. 4, 19751 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SIGNALING SYSTEM Haig Antranikian, Lakewood, N. J.

Application January'22, 1944, Serial No. 519,272

solaims. (crass-1s) The invention concerns processesy and means for signalling ofthe type generally designated under the name of frequency modulation signailingI system. This namev suggests that. the signals transmitted' areisounds, butit is used also with a broader meaning and it is in this broader meaning'that it is usedhere, as thev processes and meansl describedcan be applied tofany form of intelligence transmission, including transmissions of telegraphi'c signals, sound and picture transmissions,` etc., in short. anyf signalV that can be transmitted through frequency variations corresponding to-vvariationsofsignal strength. This aimv is attained through the use of'piezo-crystals andltheir properties;

In the frequencymodulation devices heretofore used a rather' wide range (-or' bandi ofY frequencies was needed; for instance, in speech transmission a range of frequencies equal to, or larger than the rangeof speech frequencies was needed. With the processes and' means according to the present invention a considerably less Width of frequency: range isrneededgin certain cases the variation of'frequenciesneeded for a clear transmission of:v signals may amount, itis believed, to aV few cycles. that the invention is notl limited' to these cases and'that any range'of frequencies consistent with ther processesl and means herein described` and claimed' is" inthe scope of the invention.

Accordingly, oneeobjectof the invention isk to provide a process and means for' changing amplitudes of electrical potentials (or currents vhere in named "signal potentialsinto' correspond-'- ing-variations' of frequency of a carrier Wave.

Anotherobjectf of the invention is to'provide a process and means for substantially eliminating the;V amplitude variations of the carrier wave..

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a process and? means for tuning an' oscillator to generate currents .at a desired mean frequency. Y n

Other objects of the' invention will appear in the'followingpages.

In the appended drawing, Figure 1 illustrates a simple means for carrying out the process of changing the frequencies of the currents generated'by an oscillator in accordance with amplitud'e variations of signal potentials;

Figure 2 diagrammatically illustrates a means changing signal potentials into carrier waves of corresponding variable frequencies;

Fig. 3 is a wiringr diagram of one formy of impedance WhichV maybe employed in the'circuit ofFig1.2"; and Y It must be understood; however,Y

Fig. 4' is a wiring diagram of a modified form ofthe present invention.

For the clear understandingV ofA the description that follows it may be useful to point out here that the word oscillator will mean any oscillator which includes, and the frequencies of which-are controlled by at least onepiezo-crystal, andthe Words oscillator circuits will mean the same type of oscillator but without including the piezo-crystal and its electrodes, condenser foils or plates.

Referring to Figure' lithere isindicated'within dotted linel F an' ordinary type of oscillator whose frequencies" are controlled by the piezo-crystal Q, except' for the condenser Cwhich has been added for reasons that will appear later; The circuits of: this oscillator are obviousandwell knownand, consequently, need no further description. (The output ofthe oscillator may be connected to any type of emitting circuits;y thislisnot shown in the figure.) 0n the left of the figure isshown a device for carrying out the processV of changing variable signal potentials into-corresponding variable frequenciesof the' currents generatedl by the oscillator.

The signal potentials lare applied tothe terminals A, B, which in turn- 'arefconnected to the terminals I, 2, of a condenser comprising the piezoecrystal Q between itsV plates; these condenser plates may be the plates connected to the oscillator circuits, as shown in Figure 1, or they may `loe a different set of condenser plates or foils, for example as shown ini Figure 4 where the lplates 40 are connected to terminals A, B, while the. plates'dl are connected' to the` oscillator circuits; the ktwo sets of plates 40, 4l may be also arranged in different locations over theV surface of the piezo-crystal, or in anyother desired way. Theconnections of terminals A; B, to terminals I, 2, are preferably made through one or more choke coils, such as those illustrated at 3, 4, or other type of high impedances at` the frequencies of the currents generated by theoscillator.

In order to make theworkings of the process clear there is shown in Figure 1, in the rectangle G', the' example of circuits suitable for signal potentials of the ordinary tele'graphic type, but any other type of signalpotentials may be used between the terminals A, B. Thecircuits, as shown, comprise between the ends' A, B, a key 5' infseries with a voltage source Vl There is shown, moreover, a means for applying an adjustable constant potential, inv additionto the signal potentials, which comprises a potentiometer 6 vand a conductorfl connected to terminal B; the function of this additional constant potential will be explained later. It is7 obvious to persons familiar with the art that the closing and opening of key will change the potential applied to terminals A, B-and therefore to terminals I, 2-from one value to another and that these values may be changed to any predetermined quantity by the proper choice of the elements V and 6.

It is a well known fact that the frequency of the currents generated in an oscillator (when proper cautions of temperature, etc., are taken) depends solely on the dimensions and the mechanical properties of the piezo-crystal; it is also known that a voltage applied to the faces of the crystal, if properly located,l will change its dimensions; therefore, a change ofv potential applied to the faces of the crystal will have for effect a change in the frequency of the curkey 5 is open the currents generated by the oscillator will have a certain frequencyv depending chiefly on the dimensions of the piezo-crystal Q and the voltage applied `to the terminals I, 2, Vat that time; but when key 5 Vis closedrthe voltage :applied to the terminals I, 2, changes, the piezo-crystalV shrinks or expandsaccording' to the polarity of the applied voltage-#and therefore the frequency of the currents generated by the oscillator will also change. The change of frequency maybe very small butV it may be detected by processes and means described later and may thus be used for signal transmission.

It will readily be understood by persons familiar with the art that no substantial change Aof amplitude of the currents generated by the oscillator will take place because of the condenser C inserted in the grid-cathode circuit (the currents of charge and discharge of the condenser C which may take place during changes of potentials will pass through impedance L,`which is preferably of Very low resistance).

The addition of potentiometer 6, which enables the application of an adjustable lconstant VoltageV to the piezo-crystal to be made, has one or both of the following purposes. In the first place, it may be used for'a fine adjustment of the mean frequency'of the currents generated by the oscillator since a Voltage applied to the crystalv `changes its proper frequency, as ex' plained above; in the second place, itm'ay be used for a more thorough change of the mean frequency in orderY to change the frequency variations-when signal potentials'are applied to the crystal-from the range of one receiving device to the range of another receiving device; thus the Vsame crystal may be used for a number of independentthough not simultaneous, transmissions of signals. In short, the addition in question is made in' order to tune the piezocrystal to different proper frequencies.

As already stated, any type of signalpotentials may be connected to terminals A, B, instead of the telegraphic signal potentials shown in Figure 1. For instance, for transmissions 'of speech or sound a microphone circuitfnot shown) 'mayl be inserted instead of key 5 at the terminals of this key, as will easily be understood by persons familiar with the art.

It may often be desired to prevent amplitude Variations to take place in the currents generated by the oscillator more thoroughly than with the means shown in Figure 1 (condenser C combined with impedance L). This aim may be attained by the use of a means, diagrammatically shown in'Figure 2, which applies to the oscillator circuit potentials substantially equal and opposite to the signal potentials applied to the crystal, or at least to the part of these signal potentials which might set amplitude Variations in the carrier Waves originated at the oscillator.

The oscillator circuits within the dotted line F', in*Figure 2, is almost identical to the circuits withinthe dotted line F in Figure 1; the only difference yis that the condenser C lof Figure l has been replaced in Figure 2 by an impedance I6 which is equivalent to the impedance of the crystal circuit between the terminals I, 2, when the oscillator is in operation. As diagrammatically shown in Figure 2, between these terminals I 2, there areonly the crystal and the holding condensenbut the addition of other impedances for whatever reason is not excluded from the scope of the invention. It is known that the crystal and its holding condenser, when the oscillator is in operation (that is, including inertia, friction; etc.) is equivalent to an electrical impedance and this type of impedance should preferably be used at IBtOgether-With other impedances similar to the additional impedancesthat may be inserted within terminals I, 2. The equivalence expressed above must not be taken to mean that impedance I6 must be tuned at the frequencies of the emission; for a proper operation of the oscillator, it is Vpreferable Ythat said impedance should not' be 'tuned at these frequencies, and the purpose of its insertion inv the circuits, as set forth'above and explained below, can fairly well be obtained without tuning. A form of impedance whose elements can be chosen to fulfill all requirements is shown in Figure 3 which is readily understood; it may'not always be necessary, of course,'toinclude in impedance I6 all the elements yshown in that i-lgure; for instance, when the signal potentials comprise only frequencies very remote from the frequencies of the emission, the *whole impedance might be constituted with a Vsingle condenser and still a good compensation obtained.

The circuit B, 4, 2, Q, I, 3, A, in Figure 2 is similar to the circuit with the same reference numbers and letters in Figure 1 and does not need to be described again.

In Figure 2, however, there is added a circuit for connecting terminal I1 of impedance I6 to terminal A through wire I8 and, preferably, through a choke coil I4 similar to choke coil 3. Itis readily understood that any potential applied to terminals A, B, produces substantially equal and opposite potentials between terminals I, 2, and terminals 2, I7; these potentials acting'in opposite directions on the oscillator circuits compensate one another in these circuits and, therefore, no substantial amplitude variation Ytakes place in the currents generated by the oscillator. This compensating means does not, however, prevent changes of frequency to take place in accordance with the signal potentials applied to terminals A, B, since these potentials are still applied to the crystal in the same way as in Figure 1.

For the sake of illustration, the signal potentials applied to terminals A, B, have been supposed to be, in Figure 2, the potentials from a microphone I I connected to these terminals A, B, through a transformer I0 and condenser 9. There is also shown a tuning means made of the adjustable voltage device V, 6, 1; it is similar to that of Figure 1 and acts in the same way. It is used for setting the mean frequency of 7VU5 oscillations to a predetermined value either for 'spencer 51 a.. fine adjustment?v on for'v shifting.;` theA emission from one: range anotherl (these ranges not overlapping eachuotherlas' alreadyexpl'ained': It is readily seen, moreover, that" the.. adjustable constantvoltage is insulatedf from the'. oscillator circuits .byy the Ypiezo -crystal Q andby-fa; condenser of impedance i6 (for instance' by.- condenser.` 7c' inFigure 31andthus has noleifect on'the generation4 of the oscillations: other than settingvv the mean frequency. 1 y

The oscillator in? dotted' line F' mayl be connected, foremission ofthe'cur-rents generated' in the oscillator; to an. antenna` T through. anlamplifying system, as: shown.

Itis further obvious thatthe particular form oftl'ieoscillatorl circuits isunimportant in carrying-out'the processoffthefinvention; the circuits shown'. in the drawing (within dottedl line F or: F)4 may befreplaced by any other type of av piezo-crystal! controlled oscillator; the result of the. application of the' signal' potentialsl and of-'the tuning voltage upon the piezo-crystal will bel the same in all thesev oscillators.

It must also be understoodthat, while Figure 2 illustrates the particularv case of speech transmission, thev transmission ofany other type of intelligence is still inthe scope of the invention, provided it can be changed into signal potentials, since this invention is not dependent upon the particular type of signal potentialsapplied to the piezo-crystals. Of course*l the accessories must be in` every cases adequate to, the type of signal to be transmitted.

It must further be understood that, though in the iigures of the" `accompanying drawing, the adjustable constantvoltage is shown to be directly connected to the-plates (orfoils) betweenV which the piezo-crystal isl held; any other means for applying1 aI constant voltagetosaid piezo-crystal may be used;l for"V instance, it may bev applied through separateu plates unconnected but close to the plates (or foilslbetween which the crystal is held, as willV beeasily understood by persons familiar with the-art.

Fig. 4 shows a modiiication ofv the invention shown in Fig. 1. The-control signals are derived from any suitable source' such; for example, as

that disclosed` in Fig; 1 andi-may be suppliedP through chokesS ande-tothe'plates or electrodes il? of the crystal Q. A- second pair oi'plates` or electrodes l' are associated with the crystalY Q and are connected in circuit with the oscillator. Frequency modulation in accordance with the control signals is effected by the arrangement of Fig. 4 in much the same manner as that described in connection with Fig. 1. However, due to the arrangement of the plates of the crystal. which engage spaced surfaces of the crystal, coupling between the control signal circuit and the oscillator circuit, suchr as condenser coupling, is aporeciably reduced and n is substantially eliminated.

What I claim is:

1. In a frequency modulated carrier waves emitting means in which a piezo-crystal controlled oscillator is used for generating the carrier waves, the process of modulating with the same piezo-crystal in accordance with signal potentials and within selectively different ranges of modulation not overlapping each other, which consists in applying substantially exclusively to the piezo-crystal said signal potentials so limited in intensity as to produce frequency modulations in narrower ranges than said selectively different ranges, additionally applying to said piezo-crystal a .constantvoltage otherwise unaifecting .the -oscillator which can be adjusted by larger amounts thansaid sig-nal: potentials, whereby the modulation frequenciescan beshifted' from one to another.y of r said selectively different ranges, and adjusting saidiconstantlvoltage toselect'the desired; range ofV said selectively. diiferent rangesv of modulation.

2. Incombination, circuitsofan oscillator the frequency of which is controlled by al piezocrystal, a. rst circuit which includes in series the frequency controlling piezo-crystal, a second circuit excluding said piezo-crystal and having an impedance substantially equivalent to the impedance of"said'rst"circuit, a source ofrsignal potentials,V connected tor both first and second circuits whereby potentials-are induced into both circuits, andmeansfor connecting saidl circuits of an oscillator tosaidiirst'and second circuits in such a way that' the effects of the potentials induced into the first' and'second circuits on said circuitsof an oscillator compensate eachother.

3. In a-frequency modulation system comprisingva-piezo-electric crystal controlled oscillator having an output circuit' and an input circuit including saidr piezo-electric crystal to which amplitude modulated' input signals are applied, the Amethod of varying the output frequencies in accordance with said inputsignalswhich comprisesapplying components of said input signals to' said' crystal and applying components of said input signals to the input circuit of said oscillator in suchfmanner as to substantially Zero the eifect which the input signals' applied to the piezoelectric crystal would otherwise have in the input circuit ,of the oscillator, and adjusting the fre'- duency range of said crystal. to desired values by applying and adjusting the magnitude of a unidirectional potential across said crystal and also-in opposite polarity sense to the input circuit of said oscillator'whereby to zero the net unidirectional potential bias in the input' circuit to said' oscillator.

4'. In a` frequencyl modulation system, anoscillator circuit including anelectron tube having its spacel discharge path connected in an output circuitand a control electrode, an input circuit connect'ed to said control electrode, a vpiezoelec tric crystal, an impedance in series with said crystal; said crystalv and impedance being connected acrossI said input-circuit of said tube, a source of signal potentials, and means for applying signal potentials from said source across said crystal andin opposite polarity sense across said impedance whereby to apply substantially zero signal potential from said source to the control electrode of said tube.

5. In a frequency modulation system, an oscillator circuit including an electron tube having its space discharge path connected in an output circuit and a control electrode, an input circuit connected to said control electrode, a piezoelectric crystal connected across said input circuit, an inductance connected across said input circuit, and a capacitance connected in series in one leg of said input circuit, both between said crystal and said tube, a source of signal potentials, and means for applying said signal potentials across said crystal, said inductance being of such value as to have low impedance at the frequencies of said signal potentials but high impedance at the vibration frequencies of said piezo-electric crystal and said capacitance being of such value as to have high impedance at the frequencies of said signal potentials but low impedance at the Vibration frequencies of said piezoelectric crystal.

6. In a frequency modulation system comprising a piezo-electric crystal controlled oscillator having an output circuit and an input circuit including said piezo-electric crystal to which amplitude modulated input signals are applied, the method of varying the output frequencies in accordance with said input signals which comprises applying components of said input signals to said crystal and applying components of said input signals to the input circuit of said oscillator in said manner as to substantially zero the effect which the input signals applied to the piezoelectric crystal would otherwise have in the input circuit of the oscillator, and adjusting the frequency range of said crystal to desired values by applying and adjusting the magnitude of a unidirectional potential across said crystal.

7. In a frequency modulation system, an oscillator circuit including an electron tube having its space discharge path connected in an output circuit and a control electrode, an input circuit connected to said control electrode, a piezo-electric crystal connected in said input circuit, a source of signal potentials, means for connecting said signal source across said piezo-electric crystal, and means for connecting said source to said input circuit in a manner such asto oppose the signal potential applied to said control electrode by Way of said crystal and to reduce the net signal potential from said source on said control electrode substantially to Zero, an adjustable source of direct potential, and means for connecting said direct potential source across said piezo-electric crystal.

8. In a frequency modulation system, an oscillator circuit including an electron tube having its space discharge path connected in an output circuit and a control electrode, an input circuit connected to said control electrode, a piezoelectric crystal connected in said' input circuit, a source of signal potentials, means for connecting said signal source across said piezo-electric crystal, and means for connecting said source to said input circuit in a manner such as to oppose the signal potential applied to said control electrode by Way of said crystal and to reduce the net signal potential from said source on said control electrode substantially to Zero, an adjustable source of direct potential, and means for connecting said direct potential source across said piezo-electric crystal, and means for connecting said direct potential source to said input circuit in opposite polarity sense to the direct potential applied to said crystal whereby to zero the net direct potential bias on the control electrode of said tube.

9. In a frequency modulation system, an oscillator circuit including an electron tube having its space discharge path connected in an output circuit and a control electrode, an input circuit connected to said control electrode, a piezoelectric crystal, an impedance in series With said crystal, said crystal and impedance being con'- nected across said input circuit of said tube, a source of signal potentials and means for applying signal potentials from said source across said crystal and in opposite polarity sense across said impedance whereby to apply substantially zero signal potential from said source to the control electrode of said tube, an adjustable source of direct potential, and means for connecting said direct potential source across said piezo-electric crystal and in opposite polarity sense across said impedance whereby to zero the net direct potential bias on the control electrode of said tube.

HAIG ANTRANIKIAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Numberl Name Date 1,861,462 Trouant June 7, 1932 1,867,567 A Hansell July 19, 1932 1,938,657 Hansell Dec. 12, 1933 1,950,406 Hoorn Mar. 13, 1934 2,054,431 Lindenblad Sept. 15, 1936 2,071,564 Nicolson Feb. 23, 1937 2,085,008 Crosby June 29', 1937 2,114,335 Crosby Apr. 19, 1938 2,205,847 Crosby June 25, 1940 2,212,338 Bown Aug. 20, 1940 2,233,199 Donley Feb. 25, 1941 2,274,486 Koch Feb. 24, 1942 2,301,828 Stone Nov. 10, 1942 2,306,555 Mueller Dec. 29, 1942 2,309,083 Usselman Jan. 26, 1943 2,312,079 Crosby Feb. 23, 1943 Usselman Mar. 16, 1943 

